Kristen Stewart to Play Astronaut Sally Ride in THE CHALLENGER Series

When the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded just 73 seconds after liftoff in January 1986, I was barely two years old. Everyone on board, including teacher Christa McAuliffe, tragically lost their lives. The disaster prompted a thorough investigation of NASA, led by a committee of prominent figures like test pilot Chuck Yeager, astronaut Neil Armstrong, and Sally Ride, the first American woman in space. A new limited series called “The Challenger,” starring Kristen Stewart, will focus on Sally Ride’s story.

Amazon MGM Studios has approved a new series based on Meredith E. Bagby’s popular 2023 book, The New Guys. Maggie Cohn, who has won a Golden Globe, will write, produce, and oversee the series as showrunner. James Hawes, a BAFTA nominee, will direct. Stewart will also be a producer on the project.

From the press release:

The series The Challenger recounts the compelling story of the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, detailing both the events that led up to the tragedy and the subsequent investigation. As the 1986 Rogers Commission examines NASA to determine the cause of the accident, the show also follows the personal experiences of Sally Ride, a member of the Commission.

As a total space movie buff, I was completely drawn into the story of Sally and her incredible Astronaut Class of ’78. It follows them from the very beginning – the intense recruitment process and all the grueling training – and really shows you the ups and downs they faced, both professionally and in their personal lives. Ultimately, it builds to that amazing, history-making moment when Sally shatters the glass ceiling and becomes the first American woman to venture into space. It’s a really inspiring journey!

After a successful 25-year film career, Stewart is making his television debut with a new project called The Challenger. The air date hasn’t been announced yet.

Kyle Anderson is a Senior Editor at TopMob and the host of the weekly podcast, Laser Focus, where he dives deep into pop culture. He also writes film and TV reviews, and you can find him on Letterboxd.

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2026-03-19 23:33